The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the…

I was the last week amazed to read a Printed Letter, written by a Conformist, who says, They have cause to be afraid left England have Sodoms Punishment, and be destroyed with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven. For some were so wicked as to bid open Defiance to the Judgments of God. That very Day the Storm was, in a Play-house they acted Thunder and Lightning, and the falling down of Chimneys, the Audience clapping their Hands, and making themselves Sport thereat. Be Astonished at this, O ye Heavens! Will not the Lord be avenged on such a Nation as this! O the Infinite Patience of the long suffering God, that the Earth does not open its Mouth, for such sinners to go down alive into the Pit! History tells us, that when Aladius ⟨p. 56⟩(one of the old Latin Kings) would be so impious as to imitate Jove's Thunder and Lightning, the Earth in that moment, opened its mouth, and he and all his House were swallowed by it. But that ever any in a Christian Nation should bid such Defiance to Heaven, is prodigious. This may make us fear, & should awaken us to implore the Mercy of Heaven, that utter Destruction may not come on the dear Land of our Fathers Sepulchres. Who knows, but Prayer may be a means if not wholly to Avert desolating Judgments, yet to Divert them for a time. As it was with Nineveh when they Cried to God, that Judgment which otherwise had overtaken them in Forty Days, did not come until Forty Years were expired. They said, Who can tell, if God will turn from His fierce Anger that we perish not? So, who can tell what Prayer may do? And we have the more reason to Pray, for that our own welfare is wrap• up with theirs. If Desolations come upon England, it can't be well with New-England. However, if direful. Plagues must make the Earth Empty, let them find us Praying, and Mourning for the Sins of the Times, and ⟨p. 57⟩whatever comes it shall go well with us. When Angels with Slaughter weapons i• their hands, are to destroy utterly, there is a ••ack set on them that Sigh and Cry for all the Abominations that are done in the midst of the City. Ezek. 9.4. It may be they shall be favoured with signal Temporal Preservation: But if not, they shall have Spiritual and Eternal Presentations, which are a Thousand times more desirable.